Arson suspected in Merriman Funeral Home fire

The Merriman Funeral Home is suspected to have been the target of an arson attack that destroyed two hearses and damaged the exterior of its chapel early yesterday morning.

The fire was started sometime after 12am at the Lime and Bent streets location but firemen from the Guyana Fire Service managed to contain the blaze.

One of the hearses destroyed by the fire
One of the hearses destroyed by the fire

The fire is suspected to be the work of arson because electrical causes were ruled out, one of the persons assessing the damage said.

Supervisor of the funeral home Evan Berry said that the last set of employees left the building around 8 pm on Wednesday.

Berry said that after midnight, workers received calls from neighbours that the building was on fire. When they rushed to the scene, she said, they found that the fire had already been contained by the firemen who responded.

Berry said that the fire has cost the business millions in losses while adding that the two hearses were only purchased in the latter part of last year. Merriman’s is still open for business as usual, she, however, added.